Animal attraction led to a proposal in RSPCA shop

CONGRATULATIONS to animal lovers Jackie Allen and Ron Harney, who married at Southport Floral Hall.

Jackie, the manager of the RSPCA charity shop in Southport and Ron, who transports classic cars, celebrated with more 100 guests, including their four grandchildren, Amy, 6, James, 3, Ben, 13 and Lucy, 3.

The couple, who have a grand total of six dogs, two rabbits, two guinea pigs, three chickens and 20 gerbils, got engaged almost two years ago, when Ron proposed in the RSPCA shop on Eastbank Street.

Jackie said: “Ron came to meet me from work on Christmas Eve, and he said, ‘Can I ask you something?’

“I thought he was going to ask if I wanted to go out for my tea! But in fact he was asking if I wanted to choose an engagement ring.”

The news was met with delight by Ron’s daughters, Nicky, 38, and Kerry, 35, and Jackie’s daughter, 37-year-old Sheena.

Jackie said: “Sheena was hysterical. Everybody was really excited.”

Jackie, who worked at the RSPCA shelter in Birkdale for seven years before moving to the charity shop in 2005, added: “The day was absolutely perfect, it really was.

“Everything just fell into place. And Ron is just such a lovely man.”

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